Improvement in rotary steam-engines



- 2 She'ets--Sheet2. J. A. LANNERT & C. A. TOWER.

Improvement in Rotary Steam-Engines No. 131,883. I Patented 0011.1,1872.

. .V II IIIWIITIIUMIII/IL 08 MK (058 91753 P/MCISS-l v 2-Sheets'--Sheet1 I 'J. A. LANNERT & c. A. TOWER. Improvement inRotary Steam-Engines N 131,333 Patented Oct-1,1872.

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NI'IED STATES PATENT on.

JOHN A. 'LANNERT AND onintron A. TOWER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENTQIN ROTARY STEAM-ENGINES.

' Specification forming part of Letters'Patent No. 131,883, dated Octoberl, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JoHN A. LANNERT Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3

is a view of the inside. Fig. etis an inside view of the cylinder-head. Fig. 5 is a detached section. Fig.6 is a transverse section. Figs.

.7, and 8 are inside views, showing different po-' sitions of the piston in reference to the steamports. Fig. 9 is a transverse view of the piston-wheel.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in theseveral views.

The nature of this invention relates to a steam rotary engine; and the object of the same is to run the engine bythe induction of steam throughone end of the piston-shaft throughto the periphery of the piston-wheel, where it acts directly. upon the piston, and is discharged from the cylinder through the piston-wheel; thence-through the opposite end of the shaft to the outside.

Of said engine the following is a more full and detailed description: In the drawing, A represents the cylinder or shell of the engine. In said cylinder is fitted a piston-wheel, B,

i Fig. 3, of which 0 is the shaft, havingits bearings in the cylinder-heads D. A detached view of the piston-wheel and shaft is shown in Fig. 5. Said shaft is hollow, as shown in Fig. 6, in which figure, it will be seen, that midway the length of the shaft is a diaphragm or partition, 0., so that the bore does not extend directly through the shaft, but to the center only. At that point it forms a junction with the radial ports E F, Fig. '9, of the piston-wheel-the end 0 of the shaft with the radial port F, and the end. 0 with the radial port E. By this means a direct passage is established from each end of the shaft to the periphery of the piston-wheel, the purpose of which will presentlybe shown. In each end of the pisten-wheel is cut an irregular groove, G, Fig. 3?; also shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Said grooves are for operating the abutments H I, Figs. 3, 7, and 8. Said abutments consist of metallic strips, of a width a little more than the width of the steam-space J, between the face of the piston-wheel and the inside surface of the cylinder. Said abutments are fitted loosely into the side of the cylinder in grooves or seats formed in the rib K, Fig. 2,

one on each side thereof, as will be seen in Figs. 3 and 7, in which figures H I represent the ends of the abutments, as seen at one end of the cylinder, the corresponding end of the 7 cylinder being the same; so also are both ends of the piston-wheel. The abutments referred to are operated by the radial sliding rods L, Figs. 1 and 2. Said rods are fitted in grooves cut in the side of the inside of the cylinderheads, as shown in Fig. 4., which represents the inside of a cylinder-head. On the inner end of each rod is secured a friction-roller, c. The diameter of the said rollers is such as to fit closely but not tightly in the groove G in the ends of the piston-wheel, and in which they run for operating the abutments. The abutments are connected to the slide-rods by a pin, a, projecting from each end of each abutment, and which is received into corresponding holes in the'rods. By this means as the said rods are operated radially in their grooves the abutments are moved backward and forward in the same direction, and both ends equally, as each one is connected to a sliding-rod, and operated by a friction-roller having a run in the grooves G, as above said. M N, Fig. 5, are packing-rings, forming the outer face of the piston'wheel, and against which the inner edge of the abutments press when closed, as will hereinafter be shown. 0 is a central rib surrounding the piston-wheel, and which forms the shoulders for the inner edge of the packing-rings. On one side of the piston-wheel is secured the piston P, Fig. 3,

the radial thickness of which is equal to .the.

' into the grooves Gr formed in each end of the piston; therefore, as the piston-wheel is made 2 1s1,ssa

to revolve, the grooves will run upon the rollers--or in other words, the rollers and the rods being free to move radially will follow the irregular curves of the grooves, which will work the abutments accordingly, they being attached to the rods as above described. The holes 0, Fig. 3, made longitudinally through the piston-wheel, are for the purpose of allowing the steam to pass to the opposite side of the wheel, thereby causing an equal pressure of steam on each end of the piston-wheel, which is, therefore, balanced so far as relates to steam pressure.

The practical operation of the above-described engine is as follows: The position of the piston, as shown in Fig. 3, is such as when the two valves are advanced and touching the face of the piston -wheel. In this position both of the radial ports E F are above the closed abutments, as indicated by the dotted lines f, Fig. 3. Now, on the admission of steam the piston P; the pressure of the steam, as a consequence, will drive the piston forward in direction of the arrow, as the closed abutment I prevents its escape in that direction; hence, serving as a buttress against which the steam acts for impelling the piston in its rotary movement. .The moment that the piston begins to leave its position, shown in Fig. 3, the abutment H begins to open, and by the time it reaches the abutment it is so far withdrawn into the side of the cylinder as to allow the piston to pass unobstructed by it. When the piston has reached about the position shown in Fig. 7 the abutment H begins to close, and by the time it has reached the point h it is quite closed, and a further induction of steam on the upper side of the abutment H is thereby out off, the induction-port being now below it, and that abutment now becomes the buttress, against which the steam acts for driving around the piston, about the time that the piston has reached the point h. The radial port E is now above the abutment I, and through which port the steam. that has been used is educted from the steam-space through the opposite end 0 of the shaft, and exhausted to the outside. At the time that the piston begins to leave the point It the abutment I begins to open, and by the time that the piston reaches it it is entirely open, so that the piston can pass, as shown in Fig. 8. When the piston reaches about the position shown in M Fig. 8 the abutment I begins to close, and by the time it reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 it is entirely closed, and thereby taking steam through the port F above the abutment, as above instanced; the used steam in the meantime is making its escape from the cylinder through the port E, thence through the end of the shaft 0 to the outside of the engine, and so on the steam is inducted into the steamspace through the end 0 of the shaft and the port F, and exhausted through the port E and the end 0 of the shaft. The opening and closing of the abutments at the proper time and in the order as above described is eifected by the influence of the grooves G upon the friction-rollers 0, operating the radial slidingrods L above described. The piston maybe impelled in the opposite direction by inducting' the steam into the cylinder through the end 0 of the shaft and exhausting it through the end 0. The operation of the abutments will be the same in either event, and the engine will run equally well.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The piston-wheel B, provided with the grooves G in one or both ends thereof, in combination with the radial sliding-rods L, substantially in the manner as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The hollow shaft, consisting of the sections 0 C and radial ports E F, as arranged in relation to each other, and in combination with the piston P, and abutments H I, and cylinder A, in the manner as described, and for the purpose specified.

3. The piston-wheel B, piston P, grooves Gr, radial-ports E F, and shaft consisting of the sections 0 O, in combination with the radial sliding-rods L, friction-rollers c, and abutments H I and cylinder A, constructed and arranged to operate in the manner substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

JNO. ADAM LANNERT. CLINTON ARTHUR TOWER. Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, JOHN H. BURRIDGE. 

